Lean and Business Improvement - Associate Director

Jacobs; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Hybrid working model

Enhanced pension contributions up to

Private medical cover

Digital GP access

Family planning and fertility support

Enhanced parental leave

Employee networks

Life assurance

Income protection

Wellbeing resources

Professional memberships funded

Volunteering time & charitable funding

Job summary

Jacobs in Leeds seeks an experienced leader to drive Lean and business process improvement across major national programmes. You’ll influence strategic decisions, develop capability, mentor teams and shape delivery approaches for complex projects.

You’ll manage multi-disciplinary teams, build trusted client relationships and grow our capability footprint to deliver value across sectors. This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on delivery excellence.

Qualifications

• Significant experience spearheading business process improvement and lean initiatives to programme management and complex delivery functions.
• Sound knowledge of 5S and Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
• Track record of managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering outcomes across large-scale programmes.
• Established client-facing track record with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading both operational and strategic portfolio growth.
• Experience managing risks, governance and delivery performance within complex environments.
• A passion for developing people, mentoring teams and building high-performing cultures.
• Proven capability in resource planning, workforce management and team management.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic leadership across major programmes and complex delivery functions.
• Facilitate critical workshops, shape delivery approaches and optimise processes.
• Support major bids and develop future talent within the team.
• Influence senior stakeholders and expand the capability footprint across sectors.
• Mentor colleagues and create a culture where people can thrive and achieve.

Skills

Lean leadership

Six Sigma

Portfolio growth

Stakeholder influence

Resource planning

People development

Risk and governance

Tools

5S

Six Sigma tools

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

This is more than a leadership role. It's an opportunity to shape how some of the most complex programmes are planned, managed and delivered.

As an established Leader in Lean and Business process improvement, you will develop and deliver process improvement, management and business excellence initiatives across major nationally critical projects. Influencing strategic decisions, unlocking better outcomes through smarter delivery.

You’ll manage high-performing teams, build trusted and collaborative relationships, identifying opportunities to broaden our portfolio of solutions, and play a key role in growing our capability footprint that will shape the future of programme delivery.

Your expertise won’t just impact single projects. You’ll influence the development of future leaders, and help define how we deliver value across multiple sectors.

You’ll provide strategic oversight across multiple projects, ensuring successful delivery while supporting clients through complex challenges.

As a trusted advisor, you’ll work closely with programme teams, project leaders and client stakeholders to shape delivery approaches, optimising processes, tools, resources and drive continuous improvement.

You’ll also play a pivotal role in developing our capability and solutions, mentoring colleagues and peers, creating an environment where people can thrive and achieve.

Whether you’re leading programme strategy, facilitating critical workshops, supporting major bids or developing future talent, you’ll be at the centre of meaningful, business-critical decisions.

What's In It For You

We’re committed to creating an environment where aspiring people can do their best work and build exceptional careers. You’ll benefit from

• The opportunity to manage and influence pioneering high profile Infrastructure and Utility projects and programmes.
• A genuine leadership platform where your ideas will shape strategy, capability growth and deliver lean improvement and business excellence.
• The chance to grow and expand your professional network.
• Be part of a highly collaborative culture that values innovation, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Career progression opportunities, where your impact can be felt at every level.
• Have the flexibility and trust that empowers you to manage your work in a way that works for you.
• Gain the opportunity to mentor, develop and inspire the next generation of improvement, lean and business management professionals.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine strategic leadership, client influence, people development and business growth, this is it

Here’s what you’ll need

• Significant experience spearheading business process improvement and lean initiatives to programme management and complex delivery functions.
• A sound and demonstrable knowledge of 5s and Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
• A track record of successfully managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering outcomes across large-scale programmes.
• Established client and business-facing track record, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience of leading both operational and strategic portfolio growth.
• Experience managing risks, governance and delivery performance within complex environments.
• A passion for developing people, mentoring teams and building high-performing cultures.
• Proven capability in resource planning, workforce management and team management.

If you’re excited by the opportunity to influence major programmes, grow a thriving capability, develop future talent and help shape the future of production management, we’d love to hear from you.

We Offer

Compensation That Reflects Your Skills And Experience.

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Enhanced pension contributions of up to 10%.
• Private medical cover and Digital GP access.
• Family planning and fertility support services.
• Enhanced parental leave and family support programmes.
• Employee Networks We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds.
• Life assurance at four times your salary.
• Income protection for long-term financial security.
• Access to wellbeing support, including Calm and Daily Burn.
• Professional memberships funded and ongoing development opportunities.
• Paid volunteering time, matched charity funding, and community engagement programmes.

Ready to Lead What's Next

Good luck with your application

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.